Loading device for b reec h - load ing guns



(No MOdeL) R. J. GATLING.

LOADING DEVICE FOR BREEGH LOADING GUNS.

No. 311,974. Patented'eb. 10, 1885.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

RICHARD J. GATLING, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

LOA-DING DEViCE FOR BREECH-LOADING GUNS.

SFBCIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,974l dated February 10, 1885.

.Application filed June 16, 1884. (No model.)

fo a/Z// 207mm/ t may concern.-

Be itknown that I, RICHARD J. G lrrmxc, of IIartford,.in the county of Hartf'ord and State of Connecticuahave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loading Devices for Breech-Loading Guns; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, whereby a person skilled in the art can make and use the same, reference being had'to the accompanyingdrawings, and tothe letters of reference marked thereon, where-- Figure l is a top view of my improved loading device. Fig. 2 is a side view ofthe same, shown as holding a cartridge. Fig. 3 is a view in central section ofthe breech of a gun,.and part ofthe device showing the method of using the latter. Fig. t is a view of the front end of the device.

My invention relates particularly to the type of breech-loading guns shown and described in my application' therefor, filed June 20,1882; but it is equally adapted for use with any breech-loading gun.

It consists of a troughshaped body bearing a sliding follower with a lever-handle, all con1 bined and arranged as more particularly hereinafter described.

The object of my invention is to provide a device that will not only aid in putting the cartridge into the chamber of the gun, but by the position of its parts will indicate correctly when the cartridge is in its proper positionM that is, fully home.

Inthe accompanying drawings, the letter c denotes a trough-shaped or semi-cylindrical body, made preferably of sheet-brass, the edges of which are doubled and bent inward to form longitudinal guides b for a sliding follower, c, which has lateral grooves into which the flanges fit, and by these means the follower is guided as it is slid back and forth in the trough.Y Hung by a horizontal pin to the rear part of the follower is a lever, d, having a short arm, d', and a longer arm, di, bearing a handle, d3, by means of which the follower is pushed forward and withdrawn.

To the under side of the body a is fastened a handle, e, which serves as a means for supgun, having .the rearward opening, h, leading to the cartridge-chamber i.

In the lower part of the opening 7i is formed a notch or socket, h', into which the point of 55 the shorter end of the lever is introduced in the operation ol' loading, and which serves as a fulcrum for the lever.

The method of using my improved device is -as follows: The cartridge being placed in the guide in front of the follower, the handle c is gra-sped by the operator in one hand and the handle of the lever with the other, and the point of the cartridge and frontend of the, loader are thrust into the opening in the breech of the gun. The follower is then pushed directly forwardby means of the lever-handle until the cartridge is well within the chamber, as illustrated in Fig. 3 in full lines. The lever-handle is then raised to the position indicated in dotted outline in Fig. The descending Yfront arm of the lever extends through the slot c in the bottom of the body of the loader, and takes a iirm hold against the socket or seat l1. in the breech end of the gun, which serves as a .tulcrum for the leven By bringing the lever-handle forcibly forward it will now place the cartridge in its correct position in the gun, and this fact is indicated by the front edge of the lever strikingthe top .ofthe breech ofthe gun, the length of the lever being so adjusted as to reach exactly the' rear end of the chamber when the lever is inA this position. The front end of the follower, where it comes in contact with the base of the cartridge, has a recess or perforation to prevent it from touching the percussion-primer of the cartridge.

position ol successive balls, so that the charges of powder afterward introduced will be in the saine relative position to the balls.

I claim as niy inventionl. As a feed device for breech-loading,` guns, the open trough-shaped body, having` an openl ing through the bottoni and a handle fast to the lower side ol the body, a follower sliding` in guides on the body, and a lever pivoted to the follower, all substantially as described.

2. In a loading device for breech-loading guns, a fecd-ease having` a handle fixed to its i lower side, an opening` through the bottom of the case, a sliding follower bearing` a lever,

and a breech-opening` in agnn having a shoulder or lin;` 'forming a fulcruin for the short l arm of the lever, all substantially as described, l and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a feed device for breech-loading guns, the case a, having,` the flanges or guides b, lixed handle e, and Opening a', the sliding follower c, borne on the guides, and having pivoted thereto the lever d, with handle d, and short arm d, all substantially as described.

l. In a feed device for breech-loading guns, a case bearing a sliding follower and pivoted lever, in combination with a gun the chainber of which bears a 'l'nlcrnnrsoekct for the lever, all substantially as described.

RICHARD J. T2 Afll'llNtr.

Witnesses:

Grills. L. BUnDn'rT, En. F. Drnocir. 

